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After
the coroner ruled his death was the result of a road traffic accident,
Mrs Uzzell, of Clevedon, Somerset, said she wanted to know ‘why
something wasn’t done’ when the council had been warned about the
pothole.

Local authorities have a legal obligation to keep roads in a
good state, but usually prioritise repairs according to how deep and
dangerous potholes are.

Pothole: A section of the A65 Settle Bypass at Giggleswick, North
Yorkshire. Mr Uzzell was travelling along this road when he swerved to hit a pothole and fell into the path of an oncoming car.

It
is not known how deep the pothole was when inspected by council staff
five weeks before the tragedy, the inquest heard.

Police had called the
council’s customer service team to report the pothole, but the operator
did not pass the information on to the highways department, the inquest
heard.

However, a council
inspection was carried out two days later and the hole was ruled not
serious enough for immediate attention.

A further inspection was made of
the road before the accident and again no action was taken.

Tribute: Mr Uzzell's wife Kate said he an experienced cyclist and who was out doing what he loved, while raising money for charities close to his heart

Mrs Uzzell said: ‘I do not want anyone else to lose a loved one because the roads have not been properly maintained.

‘My
life has been devastated, I have lost my best friend and soul mate, a
lovely person, who bought joy to my life, I am lost and lonely without
Martyn.

'And it isn’t just me, Martyn’s entire family is also suffering
the loss of someone very special.’

Police confirmed Mr Uzzell and his
group had cycled competently, travelling at a reasonable speed with a
good distance from one another and were wearing appropriate clothing.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided the council failings did not constitute a criminal offence and refused to press charges.

Mrs
Uzzell said: ‘I was devastated when the CPS told me they would not be
prosecuting. My husband has died yet no one is being held to account as
to how this was allowed to happen.’

Avoidable: At Skipton Magistrates' Court, Coroner Rob Turnball said there was 'no doubt whatsoever' that the condition of the road caused Mr Uzzell's death

North Yorkshire County Council said it would consider the coroner’s comments carefully and expressed sympathy.

Potholes,
made worse by harsh winter weather, cause millions of pounds of damage
to cars each year but are especially dangerous to cyclists.

Chris Peck, of the Cycling Touring Club, said: ‘They can cause injury and in some
cases such as this, death.’